Citing increases in costs for raw materials and energy, Kimberly Clark said Wednesday it was raising wholesale prices in the United States for its consumer tissue products.

Prices for bathroom tissue, paper towels, napkins and flushable moist wipes will increase in February 2006. Increases for facial tissue will occur in April.

Kimberly Clark, which makes Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers, said the increase would average about 6 percent. The company’s last price increase was in March 2004.

Pricing pressures from large retailers like Wal-Mart and competitive pressure from the much larger Procter & Gamble have been able to keep prices in check until now.

Further denting them was the uptick in costs for materials and energy. The company reported in its third-quarter earnings that the cost for resin and oil-based materials, energy and distribution increased by about $90 million.